A local GoodWill has a Grand Opening - and Dorrie is there !

Spent on Dolls and Doll Stuff : $10.80

 

Today was yet another ‘Dorrie Fun Day', and I stupidly went out, even though I really should have stayed in. Still, I'm glad for a nice time during a beautiful day.

 

I hit Dollar Tree first, since I wanted to see a few of the items in their online ad. Mainly, their new dolls ! We all know they're cheap blow-molds, but sometimes their clothes are worth grabbing. But not this time. Yikes. I'd feel bad about clothing dolls I was giving away in what those were sold wearing.

 

Nothing really new in crafts, either - I wanted to see the ‘hanging wood ovals', since they'd make for good ‘frames' for stand-alone lace embroidery. With a lace initial attached, it'd be a thoughtful, easy, and inexpensive gift. But like the dolls, they were just too dirt cheap to buy. I could get Beloved Hubby to cut me a couple of circles from scrap lumber in his Shop, staple a hanging loop of tulle to the back for nearly free. If I shaped the edge with his router (learned to use one in Shop class back in Jr. High - I'm sure Beloved would give me a refresher course if I asked), I'd be light-years improved on the DTree ones. So, maybe later, we'll make a few.

 

I examined hairbrushes and headbands - the fabric and elastic ones I can make, and every plastic one I've ever owned was a choice. Did I want comfort, or did I want my hair out of my eyes ? If it hurt, my hair stayed back. If it felt or looked good, it soon fell out, or my hair did. I may make a few fabric/elastic ones, just for kicks.

 

I snagged a couple of neat bamboo potholders and placemats that'll make fantastic flooring or wall décor for the dollhouse or photos, and snagged a few things we needed around the house.

 

I'd planned to drive a bit further, hit the GoodWill. So I was amazed when I saw the thrift store had relocated across the street ! When did that happen ? An up-and-coming MegaChurch used to be there, before it moved to a massive custom ‘compound' just off the highway. So I scootled over. Grand Opening ! I saw what must've been hundreds of folks pushing carts laden with cheap China-made coffee makers, water filters, tea makers, and small stand mixers, and what must've been just as many kids screaming for toys. All brand-new. I found a large bedding bag with several Barbie dolls and clothes sealed inside for $7., and joined in the fray. I left with the bag, some dog-based books for Dearest Son, a heavy silver star candy bowl, a nice portfolio, a coloring book, a bear wearing what would soon be a cute blouse and jumper for Timey Tell,  and VHS copies of The Black Cauldron, Mary Poppins, and Mars Attacks. Also a really good poppy-seed bagel and a small cup of apple juice.  Whew !

 

I got everything inside at home when I suddenly remembered - it's Friday. If I wanted to get the dog and cat food we needed, and not be at Mal-Wart all day, I'd best get going. Got the groceries we most needed, then sat down to digging through my Barbie bag ! Long ago, I discovered that my idea of a great day was to obtain a huge bag, box, or any other conveyance of dolls, and spend a short eternity sorting through it all. If I don't keep a single piece of it, that's fine. The $5. or $10. I spent is like buying a ticket to a movie. It's perfectly OK with me if I don't leave with anything but the experience, the entertainment, a bit of imagination, and the fun !

 

So, all that said, this buy was kind of a mixed bag. There was plenty to dig through, but not much I wanted to keep. I now own a Bratz doll, and I can't wait to ditch her. She's well made, really, and if it weren't for the rather ‘KMA'* smirk on her oversized head, I'd probably kind of like her. But the half-closed eyes, FM heels, and one-sided smile just make me think of jaded...um, ‘tradeswomen', which wasn't helped by the fact that this Bratz in particular was nude under a black and purple fake fur coat. Next to her, the string-bikini-wearing Butterfly Art Kira also in the bag looked downright wholesome.

 

I also found a blonde Barbie wearing the 1997 red and white ‘ribbon candy' Happy Holidays gown, another blonde in a lovely but generic brocade and gold gown, a third blonde in a knockoff green nylon dress, Jasmine in a generic pastel princess dress, and the Barbie Holiday Sister from 1998, nearly complete in her black and plaid gown, headband and jewelry, missing only shoes. I'm keeping the two holiday gowns, probably for alterations later. Dearest can have the 1997 bright-pink Vespa clone scooter - he already has one -  and I'm redonating the magnetic paper doll sets.

 

I'm keeping the two pairs of Ken pants and jackets, including a very nice Miami Heat basketball jacket from 1998, the green Pretty in Plaid dress, and the pink and blue swirl-bodice princess dress. I already have it, but I really like it, so I'll probably alter that one, too.

 

While trying to figure out which Princess originally wore the swirl bodice dress, I got a better look at the blonde Barbie wearing the red and white Holiday ‘candy' gown. She had slots on her back, and a battery panel, but no on/off switch. An even closer look showed she lacked the standard embossed panties, and she had a twist waist, where the embossed ‘©1966 Mattel, Inc /Indonesia' trademark was unusually large, and was even a bit smeared-looking. She also has graceful hands with separated fingers, and a very pretty face. Understated makeup, and a lip color that suits her pale skin tone. I'd about given up on non-bubblegum or watermelon pink lips on Barbies lately !

 

A few minutes of research - aided by a familiar gown in the pile - showed that she was originally Odette, from the 2003 Swan Lake series ! Her missing light-up wings originated from a pink plastic rectangle hidden by her hair, that plugged into the now-empty slots. I'm assuming the pink part also held the on/off switch. Her dress came with her, but that's all, and her hair's been badly cut on one side. Hmm. I may keep her, see if I can finish wrecking it. I love her soft expression. Just not sure she's gonna like being called ‘Odie' by pretty much everybody at Chez Insanity.

 

 

*Kiss My Assets... or Assessments, possibly.

Well, I bought the $3. SStar doll anyway...

 

Current Mood : Mad-scientisty

Spent on Dolls today : $3.24

 

 

But it's not like I didn't have plans for her ! (evil laugh) Had to run up to Mal-Wart this afternoon, snag a well-earned Bakugon Gauntlet for Dearest Son - they still had three in the markdown section, where he saw it. And for almost half the price TRU's still asking ! Is it bad to brag about your ten-year-old's bargain skills ? 

 

What he really wanted, though, I couldn't find, either in Markdowns or the Bakugon section, so we may be off to TRU this weekend. Anyway, long as I was over in Toys, may as well peek...wow. The endcap that held well-scaled erasers last week now featured a box display of SuperStar ‘tribute' dolls, still priced at $3.

 

Thought it over for a minute. That was a really loud dress, and I wasn't sure I still wanted it... but then I remembered. When the photos of these ‘tribute' dolls came out, everyone lamented that it would have been ever so much cooler if they'd made a real SuperStar for that box. I kind of know why Mattel didn't - I'd only paid $10. for the My Favorite Doll version of the SuperStar, a serious markdown. It didn't make real sense to make more when Round #1 didn't sell. With a more current face and body, sporting an ‘update' of the classic scorching-pink disco dress, it'd hold appeal for both kids and collector adults, even at the $12. original price point. At $3., though, she'd be darn irresistible, which is probably why our TRU and Target are completely sold out. It's entirely possible that the only reason Mal-Wart still had ‘em was because they got put out so late.

 

The idea hit me, and I grabbed one, chortling slightly to myself. This was gonna be fun...

 

Got home, and pulled my new doll out of the box. From the bottom, of course. Cute molded-on Barbie logo panties, and the as-promised non-bending legs. Dress was cute, but the was uber-cheap stiff costume satin was already fraying at the Velcro, and the boa is half white elastic, where it won't show. Not much for the doll, or her usual 'horrible in the back' hair, but truly, she wasn't gonna matter at all in a few minutes. I removed her jewelry, took note of her starry pink platform FM heels, and dug through my culled dolls and my regular cast of characters before settling on Charlotte as my makeover ‘volunteer'. Comparing her to the box back, she had the requisite bent arms, no bangs, big smile, and single-color blue eyes I'd need for my current little project.

 

Dressed her in Tribute's clothes and jewelry - the dress doesn't close in the back, and I had to auger her ears a bit for the thick earring posts - and posed her in the box liner. About three dozen trials and minor adjustments later, she looked good, in my opinion, and I had a deeper understanding of why Mattel staples new doll heads into the box liners with those annoying t-shaped plastic tags. I still hate ‘em, and don't know why they always use two, but I can see why now.

 

A few photos later, and I had what I wanted - a real SuperStar tribute doll ! For now, she's by the My Favorite Doll SuperStar, and she may well stay there. Y'see, you can't tell now, but she has slightly damaged feet and a loose neck. I was about to donate her. Now, I can keep her forever ! Best of all, though, is that I got what I wanted.

 

Ever considered making yourself one ? I'm gonna go post this on In The Pink, but I wanted ya'll to see it first ! Later, lovelies !

Nearly 24 hours Drama Free ! Happy St. Patrick's Day !

Current Mood : Pretty good, actually.

 

Current Image Notes : It's a cheapie light-up Belle pen, bought on sale three years ago, still never used.

 

I think a good part of my ‘feelin' pretty good right now' is due to finally updating yesterday ! The hang-up is often photos, but occasionally, I don't know what to write, either - especially when there's drama I don't want to bog ya'll down with, or I'm too sick to really do anything of interest. Usually, though, it's the Image of the Day that's also the Issue of It. Sorry for throwing random graphics up this week, but it was either that, or string along updates for another week or so. I write nearly every day, and miss it when I can't or haven't, so it bugs me when I don't have much to say !

 

Thanks to the Family Drama, Beloved Hubby's more or less off for the rest of the week, so he's catching up on stuff he wants to do - helping DBIL move, doing some tattooing, upgrading the AirSoft weapons stock. After all he went through with dear ole Drama Llama, I'm glad to see him enjoy his days, even if we are pretty broke as a consequence ! Heck, we've been broke before, I'm sure we'll be broke again. Part of me clings to the little faith I have that things always work out, and money is always something you can obtain more of later. Life, however, isn't nearly as negotiable.

 

So, while he's hangin' and helpin' DBIL, I finally quit messin' around and did some Lab work. When I got Prince Ken from the thrift a couple weeks back, he was nude, but he came with elements of three different princely costumes. Honestly, Mattel, I'd rather have full-length pants and cheep shoes on the guys than more of these useless knee-high breeches with tacky boots or stockings. Still, I keep them, since menswear is always harder to find, and ya never know when the Castle is gonna host a ‘Kings and Queens Ball', and all attendees will need costuming. But it is annoying to sort through a round dozen tuxedos (all one piece), fifteen jerkins, and eighteen pairs of breeches when you want a t-shirt and jeans for one of the guys. So I reorganized the menswear box while I had it open - and now all the separates are on top, tuxedos are at the bottom, and costumes/kingly garb are in the middle. I'm amazed at how many shirts the guys have, now that I can see them !

 

Speaking of the Castle, it was folded up before I put the Fashion Plaza together, but it was still squarely in the middle of the Lab floor. I had no idea where to put it. Or the box to the Plaza - it was not only too good to ever ditch, but I'm still charmed by the bit of tape and Christmas wrapping paper I found clinging to the back. Awwwww ! I found a small space for the Plaza box, but what to do with the Castle... Hmmm. At least it folds up nearly flat. I positioned it in front of the fabric crates, where it hides the profusion of craft boxes on the bottom row. I rather like it that way.

 

That left a few dozen bits and bobs to store, and that's been slow going, but at least I have floor space again. And I don't dread going in there any more ! Repaired a pair of Beloved's sweatpants - the waist drawstring had vanished -  during a break. One less thing on the Lab floor ! I also removed the cross-your-heart elastics from Grandma Heart, and her hair is almost perfect. I'm keeping one elastic on a bit longer, since it still sticks out a bit, but by the time the weekend's here, her hair should be just fine. I completely forgot to damp it down a bit, so I may do that later.

 

Beloved came home with a surprise for me - the miniature Eiffel Tower I got in Paris ! I'd wondered where it'd gone. It's nothing really special, just a dime store souvenir sold by the millions annually, but... well, it was mine, and I missed it. Not enough to worry anyone over - it's not like we can jet back overseas because I misplaced a $2. souvenir bought 25 years ago. But I'd kind of been looking for a replacement whenever I dug through trinkets at thrift stores and yard sales. Turns out, he and DBIL discovered it while cleaning out the shed behind DM & FIL's house. We'd stored some stuff there, and I thought we had it all. Not quite ! After a quick bath, it's going in a place of honor in the Lab tonight.

 

Well, as the day ends, DBIL's tattoo continues, and Dearest Son is keeping company with the guys. The Lab is cleaner, but cluttered corners and full boxes await further sorting, and stand as reminders for me to not seek more of anything anytime soon. I repaired the fraying dishcloth that's also been floor debris for weeks, and filled some bobbins. In short, the kind of activities we called ‘d!*king around' when I was a kid - but now I know how necessary they are to adults. They're quiet reminders of peace and hope in days that frequently involve chaos and crap and clutter. And they don't cost a dime.

 

But they are priceless. Hope you had some d!*king around time today.

Yaay ! I'm all caught up !

Current Mood : Improving !

 

I feel much better ! It's weird, but the Family Drama, while not completely over yet, has at least reached its lowest possible point, and it can either be dealt with or ignored decisively. Yes, last night, impossible as it sounds, Drama Llama somehow still managed to ramp it up, and we are done. No more excuses, no more second-chances, and I'm not even gonna try to understand ‘why' anymore. Done. After all the crap Llama has put Beloved Hubby through in the last few weeks, I'm really looking towards ‘ignore', if not outright ‘cut direct'. It rather ranks to write this, but I've cut off one family already - and I can do it again, given similar circumstances ... and these are unfortunately too similar. NO ONE abuses my Beloved or our Dearest Son. Especially not with words, baseless accusations, or just plain insanity.

 

Besides, Beloved and Dearest have enough to deal with, and that's me. There's probably a reason I'm the only female in Chez Insanity. Yes, even DC and Friday are boys. Then again, ya'll know I enjoy being the Empress...

 

My big plans, before I got sick, included spending all Sunday in the Lab, cleaning and storing and enjoying. This morning, even though I felt better, I wanted to be... you know, around, for Beloved. Can't do that tucked away in the Lab. We talked about stuff and things for a while, and he at least got to voice his frustrations about the whole situation, and I like to think it may have helped. Still wanna choke the Llama a little.

 

But anyway... Corel invited me to join a web seminar a week or so ago, ostensibly to improve our Paint Shop Pro skills, but mostly to get us to view the new X3 version. Of course, the ‘webinar' was today,  but I attended anyway. It ran a bit late, and I actually learned a bit more in the Q&A after than I did during the actual webinar, since, as you may have correctly surmised, it was mostly ‘look what cool stuff X3 can do' instead of ‘look what you can already do'. Seriously. The leader covered how to crop an image in detail (it's almost painfully easy in the X series) but completely glossed over layering, which I completely do not understand. The one demonstration of it was nearly a drive-by, since they were trying to make up time. (sigh) Guess it's back to the manual instead !

 

It's been a good day to hang out in the living room. DFIL came over with tasty take-out sandwiches for lunch, and I think he doubled up on the snacks so we'd all have a comforting fat intake. His store sells great cookies, I can state that as fact now ! This evening, Beloved decided he'd enjoy some quality target shooting, so DBIL came over, and we made a night of it. BIL brought soda and chips, we got hot dogs and ice cream, and while the guys shot at llama targets - not Drama Llama targets, pictures of real llamas I printed for a laugh - I enjoyed some quality time in my Lab. It's still a mess, but I got a couple of new nude dolls clothed, the culled dolls bagged up, played with the Plaza for a few, and relocated all the new fabric to one place. I haven't bought any, it's the stuff I was given a few months ago, but it's almost depressing how much I still have to store.

 

The same kinda goes for the rest of the new acquisitions. I love every doll I'm keeping, I adore the Fashion Plaza, and I still enjoy the Castle. But I am so tight on space in there, I almost despair buying all this stuff. I swear, I got more of a high going through and ditching so much ! Arrrgh ! Have I learned nothing from December ? And all these blasted ‘Hoarders' shows I'm addicted to ?

 

Well, at least I caught it early. Before yard sale season really begins. With Dearest home, I won't be shopping as much this year, that's for sure. That's good news - the less I go looking for, the less I'll find ! If there's one thing I have learned from the clutter-bug shows, it's that, if you don't want piles of stuff, some of it has to go out if it's still coming in. And at least I have the ability to toss out unidentifiable bits of Barbie plastic. Believe this or not, I used to keep it all, just in case. The bag got huge, and I matched all of one piece - that I didn't even like ! - out of all of it, so when we moved here, I dumped it. Now I just ditch as I go, it's much easier !

 

Humming various weird TV show themes...

 

Current Mood : Stunned

 

I'm sort of in shock right now, since the Family Drama has veered off into the Twilight  Zone, and there's not a blasted thing any of us can do about it. The one person who can is the one who's doing it, and our once-loved Drama Llama shows no sign of ending the insanity. So all we can do is circle the wagons, protect ourselves, and Do Not Engage The Crazy. We've already heard from most of the rest of the family, who are reassuring us that they know it's Llama's issue, not ours. Still, it's disheartening when one day, you're the best thing in someone's life, but then suddenly, they're... (sigh) I don't even want to describe what this Llama is doing. It hurts. Especially when I know no one has done a blasted thing that Llama suddenly believes.

 

But, hey, life goes on. I feel a bit better than yesterday, but I'm wiped out just the same. Since I don't move around much, I've been fiddling around with the stuff on my desk, and finally started to fix Grandma Heart's hair. While it's in great shape, and I love the rarely-used ash-blonde Mattel gave her, she'd evidently been crammed into a box for some time. Instead of falling to her shoulders - the previous owner had taken it down from the factory bun she had - it stuck straight out, like it'd been folded up against something else, and kept that way for some time. Ordinarily, a quick boil-perm would literally straighten that right out, but I liked the curls she had. Boiling water would remove them.

 

So I laid her out flat on my desk a few days ago, and forgot about her. Being sick and all. That helped a bit, but not much. So yesterday, I held her hair down around her neck with a couple of clear elastics I keep at my desk, from various doll and toy deboxings. You'd be amazed how many you'd find on car toys these days. Took that off today, and it was better, but again, not much. Today, I used the same two elastics to criss-cross her chest, holding her hair to her shoulders. If it would stay the way it looks right now, I'd be so happy.  I'll probably give her hair a quick spritz of water, just to experiment, and let it dry for a day or three. Truth to tell, the Mary Poppins I saved from a thrift store last December has a similar issue with her hair, so once G'ma Heart's bad hair day is resolved, I'll repeat it for Mary. (embarrassed flinch) I used tape to hold her hair down in the photos...

 

I got to see TLC's take on A&E's Hoarders today. Hoarders: Buried Alive seems to have been the pilot episode, since the series is going out as Hoarding: Buried Alive - Name of Episode. The debut ep name was ‘Welcome to My Nightmare' which kind of echoed what's been going on with Llama. Anyway... In many ways, I found TLC's more ‘real', if you'll forgive me that term. Instead of ‘we got two days to clean up your 20-years-in-the-making mess', it shows how slow the process really is. The Navy guy in the series doesn't appear to have made much progress at all, but I can see that being more accurate than a floor-to-ceiling makeover in two days. We actually get to see the ongoing work with his therapist, not just read that the patient ‘is scheduling' therapy. It's just sad that his girlfriend dumped him over it. 

 

Stellarly sick.

 

Current Mood : Whiny

 

Somehow, I'm even more sick today. Urgh. I'm coughing so hard, I see stars, and I'm not gonna describe the colors I see when vision returns. I've given up tissues - box is empty - and switched to handkerchiefs or soft, slightly damp t-shirt rags, which are always easier on my nose. Just pretty darn disgusting, so I keep ‘em close to me. Or tucked away in the computer drawers during the rare few moments I'm mobile.

 

On the plus side, my colds often go this way. I'm not quite all right on Day One, but it doesn't stop any of my plans. Day Two, it's clear I'm sick, but I still try to move around since I'm not completely miserable. Day Three, I am completely miserable, so if I can, I sleep a lot, and actually take cold medicine. We seem to be enjoying Day Three today, which is good, because Day Four dawns with more energy, less ick, and Day Five is nearly back to normal, and I wrap up on either Day Five or Day Six, which is nearly a carbon copy of Day One.

 

Not sure why I bothered to write all that. I'm sure everyone is pretty much the same way ! I just don't know what else to say.

 

Burning my way through a box o' Kleenex...

 Current Mood : Urgh. 

 

Well, I guess it's official now - I've caught a cold or something. I'm coughing so hard my eyes water, my throat's like raw meat, and I've gone through a quarter of a box of tissues. And that's on Mucinex. I am a bit more clearheaded on it than off, but that just means I'm more awake to feel miserable. Ugh.

 

On the plus side, it kept me from going to the flea market. That, and I'm still broke. (grin) Sometimes, that's a real blessing. It's not like I need anything, not even 6mm craft foam, right now. My plans for the day were some intense Lab work, but so far, all I've done is clear my nose, cough, and click to another website.

 

At least I managed to clear off, clean, and redo the top shelf of my computer hutch. Dearest Son started to take his ‘Galactic Heroes' size Millennium Falcon apart this morning, and I offered him three Delorean tickets in exchange. It's mine now ! I probably wanted it more than Dearest in the first place, truth be told - it's just easier to justify a $30. toy for him than for me ! While it's not nearly so huge as the action-figure Falcon (original or repro), I've always loved its ‘chibi-cute' factor - it's almost cuddly, if it weren't hard plastic ! Sometime next week, I get to dig in his toybox for the guns, the satellite dish, and the cockpit piece, but right now, it looks cute as-is, with the Beanie Baby crab lounging by the landing gear.

 

Of course, for it to be on the top shelf of the computer hutch, I had to move stuff around and clean it. Once everything was off for dusting, I had to decide where to put it back. Couple years ago, when Beloved Hubby did anime music videos, we bought a super-cheap small DVD player dedicated to that, and since it was considered a computer peripheral, it's been up there. Since it's been at least two years since we did one, I moved it over by the TV, shifted the blank DVDs down, and reorganized the diorama-platform-thingie I keep up there for quick photos. That gave me plenty of space for my latest recycled toy ! And I found a Disney Princess pen I bought about two years ago, when it was 75% off. I thought it was lost somewhere in Molly's rarely-cleaned-out backseat.

 

There's another Hoarders type show debuting tomorrow, on TLC. Our cable provider isn't sure if it's called Hoarders : Buried Alive or Hoarding : Buried Alive - it has listings for both. But it's Hoarding on the TLC website. I can't help but wonder how it'll differ from A&E's, or if it's a carbon copy. Guess we'll know tomorrow.

I have some really *strange* stuff on my hard drive...

 

Current Mood : Still on a buzz...

 

More of the same family drama I mentioned earlier this week. It's really getting tiresome, since it's the same thing over and over, re-hashed to the nth degree. But I stand by my original assertion - don't explain or offer a reason more than twice, at the absolute most, in case somebody's having hearing problems. After that, the other party simply doesn't want to hear it, refuses to understand, or is just plain in a stink-butt mood. Soon, very soon, we can absent ourselves from this person's life for a while, and come back when our much loved Drama Llama either is in an improved mood, or has a better target than us.

 

It's just really frustrating when you never really get your say, your side of things said, though. Not much for it but to shake it off and not let it destroy another minute of life.

 

Speaking of which, it was Dorrie Fun Day, since Dearest is already at his grandparents' home. Got a late start due to all the drama, but I got to do nearly everything I wanted, and came home flat broke. Yaaaay !

 

Since Hastings is always crowded with book trade-ins on weekends, I figured an early afternoon visit would be best. So they were the first stop. Went through the bag o' books that've been sitting around in the living room since before Christmas, books they didn't take last time, removed a few, cleaned up a few more - they don't take a book if it has an owner's name in the flyleaf, but that's an easy fix - and added four or five more. Back in the day, if it had ‘sewing' or ‘doll clothes' on the spine, I bought it. I have to admit, having about two dozen sewing books all lined up together made me look quite professional, in my own eyes ! Like a budding gourmet chef with a wall of cookbooks. And I had so many different dolls, I could surely use any and all pattern books, no matter how badly written or oddly presented.

 

Things have settled down now, and I have helpful sewing books I actually like and use, with barely a spot for them. Time to ditch the stuff that's collected dust since I pried ‘em out of that church's yard sale three years ago. Pretty much any book with ‘Beginning Sewing' or ‘Easy Sewing' on the spine will still sell. And if I haven't made a single thing from Two Hour Doll Clothes in five years, out it goes !

 

Turns out, I wasn't the only one who thought was today was a good book-ditching day. Luckily, I'd transferred my heavy tomes to an old tote bag, easily identifiable. With my Hastings card on top, they could scan ‘em while I looked around, so I wouldn't have to stand around waiting. Very nice of them. Nothing new in the Crafts or Collecting (where they normally put all non-kid Barbie books) shelves, no new sewing or embroidery books either. Didn't see anything in the ‘Last Chance' section, or in the Kids section, so I wandered over to magazines.

 

Tons of magazines ! I wafted through Doll Collector, Doll Reader, Doll Costumer, Soft Dolls, Art Dolls, Haute Doll, and Fashion Doll Quarterly in a soft chair. Had some trouble deciding between FDQ and HD, since one had a neat article on Malibu Barbie, the other had a good one on Barbie patterns. And I also spied an interesting book on robots that Dearest would probably enjoy. Decisions, decisions... then I heard my name.

 

They'd gone through the books and took nearly every one that they didn't take last time. And all of the sewing books, but none of the doll patterns ones. I could choose $20. in cash or $31. in credit - whoo-hoo ! I happily chose store credit, and snatched up the robot book, and both HD and FDQ. That only left $7. on the card, but heck, Beloved Hubby'd told me to just donate the lot, so I didn't feel bad at all about spending the proceeds. Chunked the bag in Molly's trunk, where it'll probably stay until I donate the rest of the books to the library next week.

 

Since I was already halfway across town, I hit TRU. Sad. The Barbie aisle is down to just one aisle, and it's not even very long. I finally got to see the 1966 Stewardess Barbie, but didn't get her. Beloved urged me to use the credit card if I found anything, but heck. I'd rather make that suit m'self, and I don't need another doll. I'd really feel obligated to keep her, since I spent so much. Of course, they were completely out of the $3. SuperStar Barbie, which I kind of knew would happen. Again, no big loss. I was actually thinking of buying one of the Disney Princess tote bags, and it took me longer to talk myself out of that than it did any doll !

 

Remember the fuss and nonsense I went on and on about, when I was making that soft-sided box ? How I couldn't find 6mm thick craft foam, and how ticked I was ? I later found two sheets of it at Michael's Crafts, and called twice since then, and it'd not been restocked yet. Since it was in the same strip as TRU, I walked down...and walked out with 12 sheets of the stuff. I now have enough 6mm craft foam to make at least three of the biggest boxes, whenever I want to. I selfishly bought them out, but clearly, someone else had purchased a few. Still, I was happy to have it, and glad that I never mail-ordered it. Now I just have to get my big ole butt in there and clean up the Lab, so I can sew something ! It's just funny that I had $12. in cash (plus change) on me, and there were 12 sheets of it at 99c each !

 

I'd originally planned to hit Target, but by now, school was out and traffic was thick. Even worse, it was Friday. Target would be a huge snarly mess of cars, shopping-as-recreation adults and screaming kids, so I decided to just come home. Plus, I was broke and rather hungry.

 

 

Current Mood : Questioning my taste in cheap thrills...

 

We ended up back at Mal-Wart this morning - Dearest Son earned enough for the Mole Pod, a GI Joe toy, and he wanted to take it with him to his grandparents'. I'd forgotten a couple groceries, so no problem. I also checked out the vacuum cleaner section. Hrmf. It may take me a few stops before I locate the bags I now need. All else fails, I'll have to mail-order ‘em.

 

A bit of excitement with lunch - what looked like a routine speeder stop between a small blue car and a Sheriff cruiser soon escalated into three flashing cruisers, a police dog, and possibly an arrest, I was trying to not watch too closely. Then our rarely-seen landlord dropped by. Thank Everything the living room was clean ! And that she didn't go near the kitchen !

I feel so clean...

 

Current Mood : Happily exhausted !

 

Whoo, am I wiped out ! I finally did a to-the-carpet cleaning in the living room, and ditched the rug. Finally got tired of tripping on that one spot that always folds up. It'll probably go under the ‘Free' sign this weekend. Moved Dearest Son's big keyboard and stand to his closet shelf, then cleaned off his desk and drawers and planted them in the ‘new' space. It was always a clutter magnet because it was right at the front door, and he hardly ever used it except as toy storage. Used his office chair to transport the heavy drawer set - I'm lazy.

 

While I sat at my desk, recovering my breathing, I found that a box of envelopes I'd recently recovered didn't allow a drawer to close. So I cleaned out the drawer of a ton of useless papers - from rebates long granted, checking statements not filed, scribbled notes no longer needed. A bit more shuffling and I can get to everything easier now.

 

That accomplished, I decided to vacuum. This was almost a treat. It's embarrassing to admit how long it's been since I last had the Duros out, but I can say there was an artificial green decorated thing in the living room, for some reason. It chugged right on into it...but after a short while, didn't seem to pick up much. I looked at the bag indicator, it seemed as though I had lotsa bag to go. Cleaned the beater heads of dog hair and various threads, and ten minutes later, had to do it again. The third time, I actually popped the top and looked.

 

Wow. No wonder I had to clean out the beaters. That bag was beyond full. Not sure why the indicator was so off, but now I know better. I knew right where the replacement bag was...not. Beloved Hubby had shoved a ton of stuff into the closet since I put the bags up there, so now it was a scavenger hunt. Found the last one and got back to it. That old bag probably weighed seven pounds, and it was as round all around as a ham. Whew. Carpets are much cleaner, and I feel a lot better. Here's hoping I don't wait for the next major holiday to drag the Duros out again.

 

Didn't get back to the dishes as I'd hoped, but I got the living room clean enough for company, the hallway and our bedroom vacuumed, and got the trash out. Swept a bit, but mostly to keep the small pile of trash from migrating onto my nice clean carpet ! It's funny, but for a day or three after I vacuum, I'll actually pick up tiny bits of trash I see - but after another day or two, I kinda give up and let it go until I vacuum again.